post your chicken coop pictures here!

[Latestarter]

It was sheer luck that the coop hadn't been closed that night and on any other night the birds would have been locked inside. I don't see that as a logical reason to NOT have an auto door. Unless of course one anticipates that they might want to burn their coop to the ground again at some point in the future... Folks (or maybe 99% of folks) really don't "need" an auto door, it's a convenience.

 

[TJordan]

If you mean using 1/4" hardware cloth as the floor of the coop; I wouldn't. I think nails can get caught, there is a risk of causing bumblefoot, and poop simply won't fall through it. It would be more trouble than it is worth.
(perhaps I'm not understanding what you mean?)

True. We are just bouncing ideas for the new coop. Husband has plans. I just have doubts that it will be done

 

[TJordan]

Why? If the fire happened at night, the birds would have been locked in the coop whether you had an auto door or not right? And if it happened during the day, the auto door would have been open. I'm sure I'm missing the details here. 

The fire was at night. I usually closed them at night but was sick that day. Thank God.

 

[TJordan]

Yeah I think you are right so maybe she means with an auto door it is impossible to forget to shut the coop door which is what saved the birds?? But I think it has less to do with the door and more to do with the heat source plus if a fire didn't do it a predator could have. But i do see the point

Forgive me. Still tired.

the flu is nothing to play with when it tries to become pneumonia. I'm not all here yet.

Yes I mean that if I had an auto door I would of lost all of them because it would of shut regardless.

 

[bruceha2000]

It was sheer luck that the coop hadn't been closed that night and on any other night the birds would have been locked inside. I don't see that as a logical reason to NOT have an auto door. Unless of course one anticipates that they might want to burn their coop to the ground again at some point in the future... Folks (or maybe 99% of folks) really don't "need" an auto door, it's a convenience.

Yep, VERY convenient. When I got mine half the house was being rebuilt and we weren't living here. The coop is a converted horse stall in the lower part of an ancient barn. The "alley" is their indoor run. We were living 25 miles away. I would go to work and my wife would have to drive up every morning to let them out. I would have to come after work to lock them back up. Once the PulletShut was installed, there was no rush or even actual need, to show up every morning.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Forgive me. Still tired.

the flu is nothing to play with when it tries to become pneumonia. I'm not all here yet.

Yes I mean that if I had an auto door I would of lost all of them because it would of shut regardless.

It's okay, i understand! Feel better!

And ahh okay thought you may mean that

 

[FarmerPhronc]

Some people leave the door open all the time even at night if they have a predator proof run or mild climate.

I don't know if I would consider it getting down to -30F a mild climate however I do have a predator proof run, I never use a heat lamp or lock my hens in at night.

 

[MeepBeep]

 

Husband wants to build a 8'x8' box coop 4' tall and to have a peaked roof that half folds down for easy cleaning. I'm going to suggest 1/4' hardware cloth for the bottom for cleanup and it will sit on 6 cinder blocks for air flow.


I saw a picture where someone had a peaked roof that opened like that and had installed the nest boxes in the other side. That way you can collect eggs, clean up and refresh bedding easily.

If you mean using 1/4" hardware cloth as the floor of the coop; I wouldn't. I think nails can get caught, there is a risk of causing bumblefoot, and poop simply won't fall through it. It would be more trouble than it is worth.
(perhaps I'm not understanding what you mean?)

It pretty much doesn't drop through 1/2" hardware cloth either, that is what my broody buster is made from. I don't think there is any "drop through" surface that should be used as a permanent floor. Even if the openings were big enough for any size chicken poop to drop through, the birds aren't going to aim for the holes and you'll have it stuck to the wire anyway. You are better off with a poop tray or hammock or deep bedding or true deep litter all over a liquid resistant floor.

I agree, buy the time you get it big enough for the poop to drop through it's going to allow the chickens feet to also drop trough or at minimum be very uncomfortable for the chicken and cause foot issues like bumblefoot.... Also small predators like weasels would have no issue getting through it, as well as raccoons reaching through it... You are going to realistically have to use 1" or larger mesh before you will see most poops fall through...

 

[perchie.girl]

Rig the pop door to a smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector.


then alarm the whole thing. Wake everyone up.


deb

 

[ShrekDawg]

I don't know if I would consider it getting down to -30F a mild climate however I do have a predator proof run, I never use a heat lamp or lock my hens in at night.

Wow that's awesome! I guess I figured they might get cold with the door open